Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-20
PERTINENT REMARKS
On Our Trade Relations With Canada
What Protection Amounts To.

ueIe tO-nlSnt on SOmmtfclA 0nioh'
The address was a response to an invita-
ton from the Canadian Club, whose Presi-
dent Erastus Wiman, is very active in the
effort to break down trade barriers be-
tween his native country and the country
of his adoption, and who presided In the
audience was large representation of men,
bers of the Chamber of Commerce, Board of
Trade and Transportation, bankers and
merchants, generally, in addition to mem-
bers OF the Canadian Club. Butterworth
among other things said: ''What is pro-
posed in the present instance is full, COM
plete and reciprocal trade and commerce
between the United States and Canada, by
terms which for all purposes of trade and
barter and exchange between the two coun-
tries shall be as one, the arrangement
having nothing to do with govern
mental matters or political conditions,
there being no necessary connection or
relation between political institutions of
the country and its trade and commerce.
We seek by this arrangement to remove all
custom houses along our Canadian frontier,
withdraw the line Of pickets that keep
watch and ward Oh both sides along 1900
miles of our northern boundary. The
adoption of the system proposed would
involve the assimilation of tariff rates
and internal revenue taxes, and possibly
arrangements for pooling receipts from
customs and division on some equitable
basis, all of which, rs has been demon
strated, present no serious difficulty or
embarrassing problem. 1t has been an
unsettled public question, having no pity
tor the repose OF nations. The truth of
that saying was fully illustrated by the
presence with us for century OF the un =
settled question between the United States
and Canada touching the fisheries.
at stands and has stood, since the
treaty OF Paris, threatening menace to
the peace and repose of both nations. 1t
has been the barrier in the highway Of our
trade aud commerce. 1t relates 10 single
industry and efforts have been made re-
peatedly to settle it without reference 10
other interests with which it, in the
nature of things, inseparably in
| tertwines. IL suggested some
doubt as to how this proposition
would be received by the American people.
IspeLk Of the first, it is not a party ques-
ton. 1t has been received with general
favor by leading journals in all parts of the
land. Ii is one that rises above the dead
level of mere partisan expediency and APP
peals to q higher motive, nobler ambition.
1t is a question ofpublic policy rs affecting
all the people Of both countries, and
will he so viewed by our people
at involves, of course, n revision OF the
tariff, and this may suggest party aspect
and the proposition may encounter Opposi-
ton from those who, reaping large benefits
| from having industries in which they en-
gagged especially and extravagantly pro-
tected, aud on the idea Of commercial union
might initiate against their prosperity
but, fortunately, it involves abandonment
neither offree trade nor protection theories.
insist, and it is too clear to need argument,
there is as little reason, as an abstract
proposition, in restricting or any wise
hamperiDg the trade between citizens of
the United States and citizens Of Canada
rs would be imposing the same conditions
and burdens on trade between inhabitants
of Ohio and those of Illinois and Iowa and
for like and obvious reasons. ! have
already suggested n tariff, if levied for pro-
lection, relates solely To unequal coDdi-
tons which it seeks to equalize, hut
if it be true that prosperity comes
simply through protective tariff without
reference to the conditions and we become
rich and prosperous by levying duties upon
all We buy if produced elsewhere and are
by the same token fenced out of every
market to which We would sell, and by u
like system of duties, il IL impossible TO
see why each State in this Union may not
become rich and prosperous by simply
erecting a tariff fence ~ between itscll
aud other States OF the Union. Unless II
can be shown there il something in the
situation and condition OF Canada which
makes the C;pSe exceptional.
"Or, to put the case more strongly, as de-
lenseless ~ it would be- for Illinois to cs-
tablish tariff for the benefit of all her
citizens ~ against Connecticut and MaSs.i-
chusetts, the latter being manufacturing
States, while the former a great agricul-
tural Stat. A careful student
will observe the law of compensation
operates constantly. That trade com
merce seeksa natural channel that manu-
idcturers, other things being equal, will
ultimately locate near the baSc 0f sup.
plies, since il involves abSurdity Ia ship
material thousands Of miles 10 he mani
featured then reship the finished
material over the same line
TO find market Now what are
the objections presented 80 far ~ the cit
izens of the United States are concerned?
| hear Of none except ~ they relate purely
and solely to some local interests. II is
proper 10 call attention Ia the fact that
one of the leading statesmen Of the day,
one who has filled possibly more
place in the public view than
almost any other man in our day,
| allude TO James G. Blaine. He has
tween the United States and the South
American States. His proposition was
met with general favor, nor has il been
treated rs party question. II great
advantages are TO be derived from such
union how much greater aud more
important are the advantages TO I've gained
from intimate trade relations with those
Immediately upon our border, TO whom we
are allied by ties stronger than those which
relate 10 commerce, and with whom our
trade, although they number but five
millions, il more than our trade with
forty millions lying south Of us, and
with whom commercial union is proposed.
During the year 1895 the United States sold
10 all the Central and South American
States but 81, OO0, 900 in round numbers,
and to all countries lying south of the Rio
Grande in the aggregate So, 4OD, 900.
To a., ,OOO, 900 people Of the South we sold
81, 400, 900, while 10 5000, 900 Canadians
we sold over So, 900, 600. If our hampered
and restricted trade with 5000, 900 Cana.
dians is over SO, 900 what will be
made the magnitude Of our commerce in
that direction when the blockade il
removed aDd when our neighbors
shall number 25,OOO,OOO people?
/ note what was said touching the des,ruc-
tive influence in international free com
merce on fisheries and some other indus.
tries. II is asserted with great force and
l. 4 -. -. l.,